Castle Connections

The Castle Connections program at Wartburg College is a supportive first-year experience designed to help participants successfully transition to college by connecting you with peer mentors, academic support staff, and dedicated faculty who are committed to your growth.

Through early move-in and engaging pre-orientation activities, you’ll explore campus, while building essential skills like time management, studying, personal accountability, self-agency, and resilience. You’ll learn about campus organizations, on-campus employment opportunities, and valuable resources, while forming meaningful connections with fellow first-year students.

During the fall term, you’ll participate in the Castle Connections section of your First-Year Seminar (SEM 100) course requirement. Created to ease your transition to college life, you’ll also be paired with an upper-class Castle Mentor who will support you academically and personally throughout your first year and beyond.

Have questions about Castle Connections? Contact the person below.

Molly Mundt
Castle Connections Director
Academic Success Coordinator
Phone: (319) 352-8756
Email: molly.mundt@wartburg.edu

Fall 2026 Program Dates

Castle Connections Move-In: Tuesday, Sept. 1
Pre-Orientation Programming: Tuesday, Sept. 1– Saturday, Sept. 5
First-Year Orientation Begins: Saturday, Sept. 5

Day in the Life of Early Orientation (PDF)

Meet the Mentors

Inclusive Community at Wartburg

Program Information

Castle Connection Students at the Cedar River at sunset

Castle Connections group enjoying the outdoors

Castle Connections group at Four Queens for some ice cream

Human balloon challenge during Castle Connections

Students on the campus lawn in front of old main doing an activity for Castle Connections

Moving from a big city like Chicago to Waverly was a huge transition for me. I wasn’t familiar with Iowa at all. Castle Connections truly helped me navigate that first year and beyond. They supported me academically, connected me with helpful campus resources, and most importantly gave me a community where I felt comfortable being myself.”

Tina Inegbese ’27

Psychology Major